John `Warwick’ Smith

[17] [Near La Cava]

1778–9

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment

Artist: John `Warwick’ Smith 1749–1831
Part of: Album of Views in Italy
Medium: Graphite and watercolour on paper
Dimensions: Support: 219 × 321 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Purchased as part of the Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund 1996
Reference: T08504

Technique and condition

The image is painted in watercolour applied over a pencil underdrawing with some details accented in pencil overdrawing, on a heavy, laid paper. Imperfections in the pulp give the support a slightly uneven surface. An abraded patch thought to be a correction made by the artist is noticeable on the recto, as are wrinkles in the support, which may be due to a thinner paper being adhered to the paper before use. Uneven sizing, or a breakdown in the size may have caused the mottled effect of the watercolour, which is apparent in the upper right hand part of the sheet. The work is in good condition.

On acquisition the work was removed from its four-ply window mount, and the white paper tape and residue adhesive removed. The recto margins of the artist's mount were gently surface cleaned. It was pressed before being re-hinged into a triple mount of white museum board.

Shulla Jaques
October 1997